Automatic relief valve



Alli 22, 1950 R. c. JIMENEZ 2,519,578

AUTOMATIC RELIEF VALVE Filed Jan. 26, 194e Patented ug. 22, 195() UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l 2,519,578 Y f AJ'roMA'rIo RELIEF VALVE o Ramn Castro Jimnez, Winthrop, Mass. Applicatin January 26, 1946, serial N6. 643.633 o' 4 claims. (c1. 137;-122) My present invention relates to relief valves for fluids, particularly gaseous fluids such as accumulations of air pocketed in chambers, conduits and the like. `While the novel means of the invention is variously applicable for automatic venting and relief purposes, it is especially suited for use invconnection with radiators of hot-water heating systems. u

In the drawings illustratingoby `way of eX- ample one embodimentV of the invention:

Fig. 1 shows my automatic relief Valve installed on a hot-water radiator;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of such radiator and valve, on a larger scale;

,.Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the valve device as a whole, on a still larger scale;

Figs. 3A and 3B correspondingto the lower portion of Fig. 3, show modifications; Y

Figs. 4 and 5 show the piston element separately, in side elevation and, bottom plan respectively; and v I Fig. 6 isa detail sectionallview of the Valve element proper. Y Y l Referring now to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings,

V vthese represent a conventional hot-water radiator I having water inlet and outlet piping connections as at 8 and 9. The automatic relief Valve unit of the invention, indicated generally by theA numeral Il), is shown installed at the top of an end coil of the radiator, as at the tapped aperture Ia usually occupied by a closure plug or` some manual valve or cock. This valve unit I comprises a tubular body or shell II having a top Aopening andthere threaded to receive a pressure-tight closure cap I2; see also Fig; 3. g;

The interior'of the shell I I provides a piston and valve chamber I3 having lat the bottom a port III for communication with the, interior of the radiator.

Such port may be formed inA a threaded boss I at the base of the shell II and adapted for direct reception in the mentioned radiator aperture such as '1a. In the `example of Fig. 3 the port I4 opens laterally lat the base of the shell, and the chamber I3 extends to` the'bottomlevel of the port. In other instances the port may open vertically at the bottom `of the chamber, as at Illa, Fig. 3A, the body there having Van elbow or other piping connection as at Ia; or the body port may be incorporated as at Mb, Fig. 3B, in a removable bottom closure I3b having threaded and sealed connection with the openv lower end of the'body. Within theinvention any preferred port construction and arrangement may be employed for ingress and egress of fluid at the base I 2 `of the valve `and piston chamber I3. If desired, particularly for installations where the radiation Water pressure is relatively high, as for example or more p s. i., a distributor or baille plate I6 may be provided above the port, of less diam-.-` eter than thechamber'and peripherally spaced for circumferentially uniform passage' of fluid'. Such platemay be supported in anyv convenient manner as by spacers I6a positioned by`anchor screwsxlbengaging the shell base. The space between the latter and the baffle is in effect a portion of the total chamber I3.

Inthe illustrative example of Fig. 2 the radiator connections of the unit include an elbow I'I coupled tothe radiator and torone side of a shutoff cock v linterposed between the radiator and the relief valve body II. A coupling I9 between the cock IB and the valve body desirably includes. a screen of a thimble or other form, such as inA dicated at ISa, Fig. 3. A shut-off device such as I8 facilitates opening or removal of the automatic valve unit I0 for inspection, screen clean-l ing and other purposes. The elbow coupling as in Figs. 1 and 2 oiTset the valve unit into less prominent location at the back of the radiator. The particularpositioning of the valve at the top of the radiator is largely a matter of preference and as previously noted the threaded boss or nipple I5 of the unit may be directly received in the radiator aperture 1a. Considering nov/'more particularly Figs. 3 to 6; the shell II andchamber I3V therein primarily present an operating cylinder for a valve-controlling piston `or valve controller 2l) movable in this cylinder. The piston 20 comprises a body of a cross-sectional size and shape conforming it to a lateral walll of the piston chamber with acalculated denite but limited clearance. This 'lat-J eral spacing is dimensioned to aord an annular` channel 2 5 between the piston and the cylinder wall, providing'a passage for escape of air from the radiator, and forv admitting air thereto" in draining the radiator, as will be more fully explained.` In'theaverage unit suitable for hotwater radiators an appropriate value for this lateral spacing about the piston is found torbe of the restricted or substantially capillary order of about.002 to .006 in., that is, a difference of about .004.j`t'o .012v in between the piston O. D. and the shell I. D`.,depending somewhat upon the normal expected operating pressure of the liquid. It will be understood that the cylinder shell II is ofa rigid material, such as 16 ga.steel or other metal or alloy not readily subject to deforma.-`

tion. n lAll parts subject to water ormoisture pref-V amene erably are of a non-corrosive or rust-resisting composition.

The bottom wall of the piston 2G is formed with a centrally disposed and symmetrical concavity 2|, giving the piston an inverted cup-like form at 5 its lower portion, including a relatively thinwalled pendent skirt 22 substantially as illustrated, Figs. 3 and 4. The lower margin of this skirt has a plurality of Asmallopenings pr slots equally spaced circumfrentally. `.FOuf` sliph'slot's are indicated at 23 in the illustrative example; see particularly Figs. 4 and 5, showing the piston, element separately. The slots may beylall. shaped, but preferably are flared downwardly from a narrowed intermediate@portion?aboye which they have a slight round dior other en largement at the top level, substantially ass'hown. The skirt apertures 23 provide radial port means into the cavity 2i in the valve controiie 'r pis'- and there define Ii.i,Iiierf,f,1edat91Qlif-i Aping level for air above the port means' c.. ity. i. ..`...-.,.v... airlreiieviiig vaive'prper is ceritany disln the' iep Wall einen. .oiihelleih It @o prisesa tubular housinglor ,sleeve Sheld in an extending through a.ceritral aperture inthe .i2-1 lis Shown BLESS.- 3 ed? the. p' ir endo the housing rsleeve 30' is threaded into tn'e cjajblirem the insidaaiidmis dcei te) form a 'u' flabutnint with fi spring pressure, in response todown q f the piston 2B, 'as will be more fully explain d the pening'actiori being do r l "aid in' the' 'illustra ec'l'exainple. When the alve q air niay through the central 'passage rfn 'end to d i the'sleeve 3 5. Y y A Best Yseen separately iii. Figi 6; the valve iS pr sented asl'generaiiysimiiar t e ior vehicle time. m 3i having fixed ori i-` or isc 32 o smaller` d here of the Sleeve@ S92,t 'pest the. Valve dSQ Wheriopn to close', upwardly in this linstan I rpatth'e adjacent,,endvlofv ,l v n flfi'o'vably threaded as atS hAhQl-lsinfgjsleeve nSli and having sealingheng ger ent therewith 'as fatta. The under .fac adapted to receive clos:Y

liktiieatioii ora neat.

one or more air vents as at 30d desirably is tted over the outer end of the valve housing 30.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the valve stem 3l is extended at the lower end of the housing sleeve 30. Its lower end is movably coupled with the piston 2i) by means of a flexible linkage such as to avoid direct engagement of the piston and the valve stem, and adapted to maintain axial parallelismoffthe pistonrand thenvalve stem regaldles 0f -pessime viiafrls; 0i the .valve dS- vice as a whole from the vertical, said flexible connection also minimizing any chance for deformingmorA misaligning effect upon the valve stem. In the illustrated example the connection includeswa swivelring 40 rotatably carried in a footpiec 4l' threaded or otherwise mounted at the` lower end of the' valve stem 3l. An opposite portion ,of the ring Il@ is in turn swivelled in a connector plug d2 centrally tapped into the top of the piston 2Q as at`43: To insuieagainst o verby thegpistn against the valve stem 3i, beyond' trie' rn'iai fm1-closed vaiv position' of Eig. 6VIA up' l mitingmeans desirablyis provided, Such aS ine or more symmetrically disposed stop 131135115-z lliE'iillzs'. 3 and 4f, viixe'd at the to'p ofthe piston and adapted tova'bii't the chamber top wall I2 in the event of upward overthrowoi the piel ton beyond the level substantially as shown in Fig. 3, at 'which' the valve has been relieved oi thepisti ioad and permitted to be 'cloeed by its spring. Hence no undue pressureon the valve stem and its connections" with the piston can o'ccir; ys'i'i'ch as' mightA tend to rupture or deform them.

In Fig; 3 tl'ie ontrller 2li is V*shown in full line in the closed or pos'tioinwhile the open 6i dwii poiticfiisjiiidicated by the dotted lines. The horizontal broken line' with associated arrows indicatee the `(,:ritieal lei/'ellas to presence or abn sence f liquid; yand 'at which air is trapped or locked in Ythe controller cavity 2i. As stated; the mass and lweight 'ci' the controller are such that the `average density is markedly greater than that of th liquid, such as water of a radiation sy'stciii. It freed from the flexible suspension and released *in a body of water the controller 2% p'r'tjrriptlyl 's'inl'sheitheruwith or without air in cavityi. vWhile air trapped in the cavity in ect subtractsv from the weight of the'controller in water 'and in this v'silente ie 'a b'uying force,

tlie'eontroller remains distinctly heavier than the waterdilsplace'd by' it, and 'sinks therein. Hence tliebjontrlleri is nota float in the ueual sense 6r being berne 'at 'ci baitiv' 'above the surface of a 1iiiiiici.l it is true' however tiiat the variation iii total fiecti weight 6i the cdnivoiir with chjangle irjthe proportions f ai and liduid in the sheii n is' a iac'v'o'i 'irl the perati'fi. *rife met gravitationaldown4 f orce of the controller is i1; vvaiijhianjn 'ajiii iii vvair is-ies with air ii'ckei iiiwcavityY than if niej-avia were ficguieefbvwaier. Ne rtiii'es my 'cdntrbner ai afinal stage yof i the valve does became y paesing above it, in

by `liquid finali v In operati n ssum' that die vaive s2 is opeii, n lle vd "ii agaufistLthe 'spring by c ff the contro erl to" hedottd position 3,-A .water t g t eimv the iattii. `er* pr vsure returns water up to the port-closing line marked by the arrows in Fig. 3 air is trapped in the cavity 2 I. VPassage of water upwardly past the piston or controller 20 is resisted and retarded by the temporarily sealing or restricting annular passage 25. Under this condition of up force of the water, the piston or controller 26 abruptly rises to the full-line position of Fig. 3 and valve 32 is closed by the spring.

When now the water inally rises above the controller piston 20, after the closing of valve 32, and reaches a static condition, the water pressure becomes balanced above and below the piston, balancing the upward liquid pressure at the bottom of the piston. As noted, the piston is designed to be heavier than water, even with air in the cavity, and hence in this submerged and static pressure condition would sink were it not for the spring 31, any upward fluid pressure on the valve 32, and any cohesive-adhesive effects in the annular passage 25. Not until the water recedes in the shell Il to a point near or below the arrow line of Fig. 3 does the piston 29 in effect become heavy enough to overbalance the spring and other up forces and accordingly drop to open the valve. Thus buoyancy in the sense Vof weight decrease (as contrasted with oatation), fluid pressure, air compression and ccnstrictive liquid flow retardation all play parts in the operation of the piston or controller 26. The action is automatic throughout each cycle of valve opening. and closing.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof illustrated and described herein, and I set forth its scope in my follow- L ing claims:

1. An automatic air relief device for radiators containing a liquid heating medium, said device clearance between them, and suspensive connect- I ing means between the top of the piston and the Valve, the piston having such markedly heavierthan-the-liquid weight as to move to valve-open down position against the valve spring means in the event of falling liquid level and accumulation of air below the piston, and also such that on return rise of the liquid with attendant trapping of air in the cavity and retarding of liquid in the capillary clearance the piston is forced up and the valve permitted to be closed by the spring means before liquid can escape thereat.

2. In an air relief valve, a vertical cylindrical shell having closing top and bottom walls, an air venting valve on the top wall openable downwardly and spring loaded in the closing direction, a liquid inlet-outlet port at the lower end of the shell, a cylindrical piston in and closely laterally spaced from and conformed to the shell to provide a predetermined capillary air-passing and liquid-retarding annular channel between them, the piston having a downwardly open bottom cavity surrounded by a skirt with radial ports at a level of the cavity spaced below the top' thereof communicating between the cavity and said channel, and a ilexible suspending connection between the top of the piston and the valve.

3. An automatic Yair-relief valve comprising a tubular valve housing containing a valve seat, a valve thereat having a stem for opening it downwardly, and a spring loading the valve in the up `closing direction, in combination with a shell defining a vertical cylindrical chamber having top and bottom walls with the valve housing centrally supported by the top wall and providing communication between the shell chamber and atmosphere, the chamber having an entranceexit port at the lower end, and a cylindrical piston-like weighted valve controller vertically movable in the chamber in close guided conformance to the chamber wall to provide thereat a restrictive annular capillary passage surrounding the controller, the latter having a solid upper part and a pendant hollow skirt defining a concentric symmetrical cavity open at the controller bottom having radial port means defining a locking level for air in the cavity at an intermediate position between the ends thereof, the controller having a flexible connection with the valve stem whereby it is hung thereon and having a heavier-than-the-liquid weight adapting it to descend and open the valve against the spring and any opposing cohesive-adhesive action of the liquid at the annular passage around the controller thereby to open the valve in the absence of liquid rising in the chamber to said air-locking level of the controller, the weight excess of the controller over the net effective up-loading force of the spring in such liquid-absent status being such that arrival of liquid and attendant locking of air in the controller cavity above said locking level in effect'negatives said weight excess 'and causes spring-relieving up force on the controller to permit closure of the valve by the spring prior to travel of liquid to the vicinity of the valve.

4. An automatic air-relief valve according to claim 3 wherein the annular passage around the controller has a radial dimension of the order of about .002 to .006 in.

RAMN CASTRO JIMNEZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 352,093 Kupferle Nov. 2, 1886 649,519 Kinnison May 15, 1900 721,521 Luethesser Feb. 24, 1903 725,640 Wemmer Apr. 14, 1903 1,166,439 Corbin Jan. 4, 1916 1,667,877 Star May 1, 1928 1,963,867 Robisch June 19, 1934 2,046,228 Wiedmann June 30, 1936 2,104,039 Hunter Jan. 4, 1938 2,251,086 Van Dyke July 29, 1941 2,276,136 Woolley Mar. 1 0, 1942 2,331,431 Simoneau Oct. 12, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,845 Great Britain Feb. 3, 1914 

